Islamabad, May 2–3, 2025 – The 18th Youth Parliament Pakistan® held its final session in Islamabad, putting forth a powerful display of youth-led civic dialogue and policy engagement. This marked the culmination of a year-long journey that brought together young leaders from across Pakistan and abroad. In its final session, the Youth Parliament Pakistan® continued its mission of equipping emerging leaders with the tools and perspectives to address Pakistan’s pressing challenges through informed debate, interaction with public leadership, and evidence-based research.
This activity marks a significant milestone of project CPTP, Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan. Funded by the European Union, led by NACTA and executed by UNODC with its partner civil society organization PILDAT, the project aims at fostering community resilience and developing sustainable networks. The two-day Youth Parliament Pakistan® session was part of this broader effort, focused on building the capacity of young leaders to contribute meaningfully to peace, policy, and democratic development.
The formal proceedings commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Troels Vester, Country Representative of UNODC in Pakistan. In his opening remarks, he emphasized that preventing and countering violent extremism is directly linked to empowering youth and promoting civic engagement. “At UNODC, we believe that investing in youth leadership is one of the most effective ways to foster resilient societies. Creating spaces like this Youth Parliament Pakistan enables dialogue, builds trust, and equips young people with the tools to challenge harmful narratives with informed and peaceful alternatives,” he said.
In her inaugural address, Her Excellency Dr. Riina Kionka, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, highlighted the importance of democratic engagement between youth and policymakers. “This initiative reflects the European Union’s enduring commitment to democratic governance and youth empowerment. By strengthening youth voices in democratic platforms, we take one more step toward addressing the root causes of violent extremism and creating space for constructive civic action,” she said.
Subsequently, the House passed a motion to support the inclusion of conflict resolution education in academic curricula as necessary to foster social cohesion and national unity. Drawing from community experiences, inter-provincial perspectives, and youth-led initiatives, members proposed curriculum reform as a structural response to polarization and identity-based conflict in the country. The motion was passed with majority ayes.
A key highlight of the session was the presentation of findings by the Youth Parliament Pakistan’s five Special Committees on Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE). Structured around months of thematic inquiry and peer collaboration, these presentations addressed root causes of extremism in Pakistan’s four provinces and federal areas, ranging from lack of civic education and digital radicalization to regional disparities and climate-driven displacement. Proposals included school-based civic engagement models, community dialogues, youth-led digital literacy programs, and institutional reforms for inclusive policymaking. Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law & Justice, Mr. Omar Riaz, Director General (PVE) NACTA, Qamar ul Islam Raja, Member of the National Assembly & Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT & founder YPP, formed the distinguished panel of judges. The presentation by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Special Committee on PVE was given the highest marks by the judges.
On the second day of the session, a high-level policy dialogue was held to discuss the links between climate change and extremism. The panel featured Mr. Malik Amin Aslam Khan, former Federal Minister for Climate Change, and Ms. Sabheen Ghoury, MNA and Parliamentary Secretary for IT and Telecommunications. Mr. Aslam highlighted that climate change is a risk multiplier for conflict, with the drying up of rivers being a key factor in current tensions between India and Pakistan. Ms. Ghoury stressed the importance of inclusive, consensus-driven policymaking on cross-cutting issues like extremism & climate change, where all stakeholders including youth must be heard. During the Q&A, members raised questions about climate reparations and the effects of climate-led displacement and food insecurity. The panelists agreed on the need for international cooperation and compensation for climate change but argued that efforts must first be strengthened at home.
In a final parliamentary resolution passed by the Youth Parliament Pakistan®, the House voiced that the government should actively promote peace & tolerance through civic education programs in educational institutions & workplaces. The discussion reflected the members’ deep concern about the erosion of democratic culture and emphasized the need to embed tolerance, pluralism, and active citizenship in everyday civic life.
The session closed with a keynote address by Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, on the th
eme “How Can Youth Overcome Political Disillusionment and Find Hope in the Face of Radicalization?” He stressed the importance of diagnosing the causes of youth disillusionment, which he deemed was the lack of rule of law in the country. Mr. Abbasi asserted, “The Constitution must be upheld by all stakeholders if there is to be rule of law in the country.” He emphasized that only rule-based systems can solve the crisis of youth disillusionment. The session sparked an engaging Q&A with Members of Youth Parliament -MYPs, who questioned whether the Constitution is flawed itself, how political parties can tangibly empower youth, and whether electoral reforms are needed to rebuild trust. Mr. Abbasi responded with a clear message: democratic norms and strong institutions are key to countering radicalization and reclaiming hope. Mr. Abbasi emphasized that governments must create opportunities for youth, only then will we see an end to disillusionment.
The 18th Youth Parliament Pakistan® ended its term with a reaffirmation of democratic ideals and civic leadership, with young participants from across Pakistan graduating the program as informed, active, and critically engaged young citizens. As part of a broader effort to prevent violent extremism and build democratic resilience, this final session was a meaningful contribution to a future anchored in dialogue, justice, and youth-led reforms.